3 Atlanta Braves injuries that could doom chances of World Series repeat

3) Braves need Ozzie Albies healthy

It’s been an injury-plagued season for Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies, who has seen action in just 64 games for the Braves this year after fracturing his left foot during at-bat in mid-June against the Washington Nationals and then, just after returning to the club from that, fracturing his right pinky finger on September 17, sliding into second base head-first against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Albies has been working out with a smaller cast on his right hand, taking ground balls in an effort to get used to fielding as the fracture heals. On Friday, Snitker said that Albies would be in that cast for about a week and then be reevaluated.

Snitker has said that X-rays have “looked good,” so it appears that Albies is on a path to getting back on the field for the Braves. The question, however, is how soon and how effective will be when he does return, including how his swing might be impacted with the injury.

Albies has slashed .247/.294/.409 in 269 plate appearances this season, but rookie Vaughn Grissom has taken over the position primarily since making his MLB debut on August 10. While Grissom has posted better numbers (.290/.351/.435) in a smaller sample size (151 plate appearances), Albies brings an energy to the Braves that is missing in his absence, an injury that could provide a big boost for the Braves in the postseason.